University of Virginia Library

It's in Ohio, Shawnee town, all same time they born:
Te-cum-tha, La-lee-wah-see-ka, an' littl' 'notha one.
He's die that 'notha one, jus' when he's born,
That las' one, poo'h littl' boy.
That fatha' that motha', both Sha-wah-no-ro-noh,
They b'long that band what come from fa' south,
Come back to ol' huntin' grounds an' they own peoples,
Cause Injun always like do that way;
But got none huntin' grounds, now.

Great mans them two, Te-cum-tha, La-lee-wah-see-ka,
Great chief, warriors, leader of all they peoples.
That las' one, he's Shawnee Prophet,
An' he's see what's goin' do white-mans.
Te-cum-tha he's great warrior; La-lee-wah-see-ka,
Hes big leader, always think of many things;
But shucks! It's too many whitemans.
Two mouse can't eat it big cornfield,
An' it's too many whitemans, yet.

Mebbe so he's live otha' one, poo'h littl' fella',
Three of it could done mo' betta' 'an jus' two;
But leva, min', I guess no use, cause whitemans,
He's jus' want what Injuns got yet;
An' he ain' got it much, eitha'


Tecumtha (ordinary English form Tecumseh) and the Shawnee Prophet, were two of triplets, the third dying at birth.